Keith called me outside one Saturday. I was in the middle of something important and was a little irritated. It is hard enough to do things these days when I have to lean so close, squint so hard, and put up with the resulting headaches trying to see what I am doing. Then he wants to interrupt me, and I will just have to start all over again. But I sighed, a louder one than was called for, and dutifully went outside.
The afternoon sun was waning, for which I was grateful. No matter how dim the day I have to reach for sunglasses nearly all the time now. He took me to a shaded spot on the west side of the field and pointed. Then I saw it, or them as it turned out, probably a hundred dragonflies darting here and there all over the place.
He felt bad for me because I could not see them all the time. In fact, I would not have known what they were had he not told me, but I think my vision of them was the best. He saw them in the shade as well, when they once again became ugly black bugs, but I only saw them as they came out of the shadows, the sun striking their wings and lighting them up like tiny golden light bulbs. Then they would disappear, but more would appear in their place, over and over, darting here and there in movements no one could possibly predict. I think my view was much more magical than his, and therefore far more delightful. We stood there watching them for several minutes. I probably could have stood their longer since I had the better view, a view he would never have because he could see so well.
No matter what we may be going through in this life, God always prepares good things for us, but we will never see them if we always stay inside ourselves, commiserating with ourselves, rewinding over and over the tape of all our troubles till we can recite them from memory to anyone who asks, and even some who don’t. There is a silver lining somewhere if we just search, and in the searching who knows what treasures we might find? Besides, it will keep us too busy to complain so much.
Go out there today and look for those silver linings—or the golden dragonflies, or whatever God has specially prepared to help you through this day. You will find them, but only if you have a mind to.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:5,6.
Dene Ward
The afternoon sun was waning, for which I was grateful. No matter how dim the day I have to reach for sunglasses nearly all the time now. He took me to a shaded spot on the west side of the field and pointed. Then I saw it, or them as it turned out, probably a hundred dragonflies darting here and there all over the place.
He felt bad for me because I could not see them all the time. In fact, I would not have known what they were had he not told me, but I think my vision of them was the best. He saw them in the shade as well, when they once again became ugly black bugs, but I only saw them as they came out of the shadows, the sun striking their wings and lighting them up like tiny golden light bulbs. Then they would disappear, but more would appear in their place, over and over, darting here and there in movements no one could possibly predict. I think my view was much more magical than his, and therefore far more delightful. We stood there watching them for several minutes. I probably could have stood their longer since I had the better view, a view he would never have because he could see so well.
No matter what we may be going through in this life, God always prepares good things for us, but we will never see them if we always stay inside ourselves, commiserating with ourselves, rewinding over and over the tape of all our troubles till we can recite them from memory to anyone who asks, and even some who don’t. There is a silver lining somewhere if we just search, and in the searching who knows what treasures we might find? Besides, it will keep us too busy to complain so much.
Go out there today and look for those silver linings—or the golden dragonflies, or whatever God has specially prepared to help you through this day. You will find them, but only if you have a mind to.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:5,6.
Dene Ward
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